HORSE TROUBLE

Horses help a tween navigate middle school in Varner’s graphic novel debut.

Twelve-year-old Kate Williams can’t remember ever not being fat. Her mom means well but is insensitive, suggesting she not wear her favorite striped shirts; her older brother, Ross, unkindly calls her Chubba, among other demeaning nicknames. She’s always loved horses, and Millcreek Farm, where she has been riding for four years and takes lessons twice a week, is a haven—except for the other girls, who also mock her size. Kate’s gotten to the point where she’s ready to compete in jumper classes at horse shows, but she also falls off frequently—10 separate falls over the course of the book, including one just after she crosses the finish line in what should be the triumphant victory scene. It’s enough to make any horse-crazy girl afraid to ride and starts to feel repetitive. Kate, with the help of a friend, also plays a nasty prank on one of the mean barn girls and endures physical harassment from her brother’s friends, but these and other serious issues are dealt with superficially. The clean, expressive illustrations in shades of blue are active and well done, and explanatory text clarifies horse-related terminology. Most characters present White; Kate’s best friend is cued as East Asian.

Visually appealing but skims the surface.